Seamless Integration Between CPC Leadership, United Front, and Consultative Democracy

The CPC’s leadership is a fundamental guarantee for the development of the united front and consultative democracy

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the leadership core for Chinese socialism. Whether we can uphold its leadership has a direct bearing on the fundamental direction of united front work and consultative democracy. As such, there is a unity between our efforts to uphold the CPC's leadership on the one hand and to promote democracy and unity on the other. Unity must have a center, and true unity is only possible if we hold firm to that center. For us, that center is the leadership of the CPC. The stronger its leadership and the firmer its political stance, the more it will be possible for us to enhance the competence and cohesion of CPC organizations and members within the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) committees at all levels, to provide effective ideological and political guidance, and to realize great unity that is genuine and tight-knit. This will ultimately result in more extensive and effective democracy.

Consultative democracy is also an important means of realizing CPC leadership, as the process of consultation is about extensively listening to different voices and absorbing useful opinions and suggestions, but also about enabling people from all ethnic groups and social sectors to understand and embrace the CPC’s political propositions and its guidelines, principles, and policies. The CPC’s leadership thus determines both the direction and the effectiveness of united front work and consultative democracy. Only by upholding its leadership can the united front be steadily consolidated and expanded, and can consultative democracy achieve effective, systematic, and sound development. 

The united front is a powerful instrument for the CPC in rallying people’s support and strength and an important pillar for the development of consultative democracy

The united front is a vital part of the general line and policy of the CPC. It has served as an important tool in defeating the enemy, in working to govern and rejuvenate the country, and in the efforts to unite all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad to realize national rejuvenation. Through the united front, the CPC is able to realize political leadership by ensuring that other political parties, prominent figures without party affiliation, representative figures from all ethnic groups and sectors of society, and Chinese people at home and abroad understand its political propositions and its guidelines, principles, and policies. Through the united front, it is able to rally support and gather strength for achieving its goals by uniting with representative figures and ensuring all members of the united front identify with the CPC’s latest theories on a political, intellectual, theoretical, and emotional level. This allows the CPC to rally people across all sectors closely around it. At the same time, the united front has long remained committed to the principle of engaging in extensive consultation when matters arise, when problems emerge, and when taking actions. In practice, it has created standard and systematic mechanisms and diverse consultation platforms and vehicles, all of which have laid a solid foundation for the development of consultative democracy. 

Consultative democracy is an important means of upholding the CPC’s leadership and consolidating and developing the united front

The process of extensive consultation among all sectors of society is a process of advancing democracy and pooling wisdom, promoting unity in thinking and building consensus, and ensuring sound and democratic decision-making. It is, in effect, a process of more effectively realizing the CPC’s leadership.

By upholding, developing, and using consultative democracy to good effect and promoting full expression to solicit effective solutions and views from all sides, we can ensure that CPC and government decisions and work better align with the will of the public and practical conditions. This will enable all members of the united front to better identify with the CPC’s propositions and to carry out its guidelines, principles, and policies. It will ensure that we consolidate both the CPC’s leadership and governance position and the great unity that prevails among all ethnic groups in China and among all the Chinese people at home and abroad.  

The CPC’s leadership, united front work, and consultative democracy all share the same objectives and constitute a cohesive whole; they are interconnected, with each reinforcing the strengths of the others. The fact that the CPPCC seamlessly integrates all three of these elements highlights its distinctive Chinese features and striking political advantages. 

Editor：Li Xiaoqiong